The Delta State Government says it will build roads and bridges to link every community with the state capital as part of the efforts to develop the state.
The Commissioner for Works (Rural and Riverine Roads), Mr. Charles Aniagwu, stated this on Thursday during the commencement of the 2.7km Issele-Azagba-Otulu Road construction in Aniocha North Local Government.
Aniagwu said Governor Sheriff Oborevwori was determined to develop all parts of the state in line with his administration’s ‘MORE Agenda’.
“Oborevwori’s desire is to make sure that every local government whether they are in the North, Central or Southern Senatorial district of the state are touched.
”So that by the time we are coming back to our people in 2026-2027, the people themselves would appreciate what we have done”, he said.
Aniagwu added, “You will recall that few weeks ago, the Executive approved a number of roads across the three Senatorial districts.
”After the approval, we proceeded to the process of awards and we got a number of contractors who bidded after the projects were advertised.
“This particular project, which links Issele-Azagba-Otulu and to Ubulu-Okiti, was among the projects that was approved in the course of that meeting.
“It has been awarded and we are here to examine the level of mobilisation and to formally hand over the projects to the different contractors.
“This particular project is comprising 2.7km and over 3km side drain has been awarded to a contractor we considered capable and it will link up Aniocha North to Aniocha South in Delta North Senatorial District”, he said.
According to him, once this road is completed, the people of Issele-Azagba may not go through the expressway again to get to their local government headquarters at Issele-Uku.
“I have extracted commitment from the contractor and from their work schedule, I am convinced that in no distant time this project would be delivered”, he said.
The commissioner also disclosed that the Oborevwori-led administration was mobilising contractors to ensure they work with the necessary speed to avoid price fluctuations.
Aniagwu said the contractor had been given 30 per cent of the contract sum, adding that he was expected to deliver the project within 12 months.
“We are doing this because we don’t want a situation were a job is given to anybody and he tells us that he has been very busy scouting for funds hence he has not been able to kick-start the process.
“Even though we know that a lot of the contractors have the resources to mobilise to site, we have to mobilise them so that they don’t move at their own pace because we want them to move at our own pace.
“What we desire first is quality job to be delivered, and secondly to meet up with the speed because we don’t want a situation where a contractor takes a job and then he goes to the market to buy a mattress and begin to sleep on the project.
“We want them to be progressing steadily so that at the end of the day we don’t have to suffer on account of fluctuations in the economy”, the Commissioner said.
Aniagwu, accompanied by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sir Festus Ahon, and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Works, Solomon Aghagba, also inspected Ichie James Obodoechi Avenue and Chikozie Okafor Road, in Asaba under construction.